Having lived in the birthplace of Thomas Wolsey all my life I have always been aware of the man and that he had been important. Wolsey’s Gate still stands in the town albeit sadly neglected. It was only in reading this book that I got to understand just how powerful he was and how high he rose in the court of Henry VIII. The enmity of Anne Boleyn was unfortunately the undoing of him. The story was told from Thomas’ perspective and I felt that I got to know the man behind the robes and hat. The man with real heart and feelings who was trying to do the right thing in a flawed world. Highly recommended.

Solid read so very near to be classed as non-fiction/biography. We can see human here, not only historical persona with few important positions added to the name. Author did great job with research of background and life of Thomas Wolsey. I enjoyed reading this novel.

The latest historical-fiction from one of my favourites authors, who after the success of her ambitious Six Tudor Queens series, shows us a new perspective of Henry VIII’s reign through the eyes of his one-time favourite, Thomas Wolsey. This is a rollercoaster-ride of a life: from well-to-do butcher’s son; to the second richest and most powerful man in the kingdom; and finally his dramatic fall from grace. An interesting and gripping read.
My Rating: Good ❤❤

An interesting take viewing the rise and fall of Thomas Wolsey through his own eyes. It charts his rise from humble beginings to gaining favour and friendship with his king Henry VIII and then his fal,l through Henry's pursuit of a divorce from Katherin,e to marry Ann Boelyn.
The cardinal in seeking to meet his mater's wishes falls foul of the rising Norfolk and Boelyn factions when he incurs the emnity of Ann

As with all Alison Weir books this was well researched and totally absorbing. A must for all those who love reading about the Tudor period in England.

2.5

Here's a quick review while I do some more thinking.

I'm a Tudor-addict; it's such a cliche, but there you are. So, I've read all of Alison Weir's books on each of Henry VIII's wives, and this sounded potentially more intriguing - Wolsey isn't someone I know a lot about if I'm honest!

It was really hard not to be constantly comparing this to Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall, which also takes a lesser known part of the well-known Tudor saga and concentrates on a historical figure who some people have lots of opinions about.

I think the comparison was what ruined it for me. Weir's writing just isn't up to parr with Mantel's - and that's unsurprising, even just looking at their output! Weir has written SO much about this period, both non-fiction and fiction, but her fiction is usually closely based on fact. She DOES do her research! But, reading the Afterward, I was disappointed (although not that surprised) to find she had changed/invented a great deal to serve her Plot. I guess I wanted a book more about Character.

It's a slow read, mostly because of the sheer scale of the book; it covers Wolsey's entire life (he lived to be 59, I believe) and A LOT happened in those six decades. So, it's dense. Very dense - not necessarily a bad thing. But the pacing was uneven; sometimes it felt like it was dragging, and I believe one of the important things about writing historical fiction is knowing when not to put in all the details that you've meticulously researched, because - at the end of the day - they can get in the way of the overall enjoyment of reading.

However, at the same time as being too saturated with historical details there were some really glaring anachronisms, particularly in characters' speech, that jarred with me. In the Afterward, she said she had modernised the language, but she needed to be consistent with how modern it was.

Still, it was a pretty good read. I really empathised with Wolsey, particularly towards the end of his life when he was living in accordance with the religious views that supposedly devoted his life towards. And his relationship with 'Harry' (Henry VIII) was really very touching. That was believable - although it was supposition, it made sense that Wolsey looked on him as a son.

Altogether mixed feelings - which is how I always feel about Weir's writing, yet I keep coming back to it, so that says something I suppose!

The author has given a captivating, emotive narration explaining the ascent and descent of Thomas Wolsey's life, which grabs the readers attention from the start & doesn't let go!

I have read many of Alison Weir's books, her research is comprehensive & she never fails to impress. I have a great interest in the Tudor Period, whether it be fiction or non-fiction & this novel doesn't disappoint.

This is a must read for all lovers of Tudor history!

Thankyou to Netgalley for my ARC in return for an honest review.

Been on a bit of a historical novel spree recently and this was a great continuation of it. I loved the author's note and the information about where the facts came from that this fictionalised account is based on. A good strong read, feel like I'm best pals with Henry VIII now.

Weir delivers a detailed, intimate and fascinating story of the life of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey.

My introduction to Wolsey has been through TV shows like The Tudors and Wolf Hall, so it was eye-opening to discover the more personal side to his story. Weir captures a personal and detailed span of his life, his relationships with King Henry VIII and his fall from power.

The detail in this novel, like all of Weir’s novels, is well-researched, authentic and an immersive account of Tudor England. She captures its politics, people and religion effortlessly, providing a history lesson disguised as fiction and accessible to everyone.

The novel at times felt like a whistle-stop tour, perhaps slightly rushing to encompass everything Wolsey achieved. However, he did have a very rich and eventful life and Weir has chosen to capture all of it in detail, so I can understand this approach. And these events make for fascinating reading nevertheless.

Weir successfully captures his relationships, such as with Henry, using the term ‘Harry’ to encompass the friendship. She also shows his attitudes and complex relationships with his enemies, including “The Night Crow”, Anne Boleyn.

He’s presented as an intricate, intelligent and educated man who loves the lure of power and wealth. Wolsey is a flawed human, and the result is the reader feels like they get to know him intimately. The novel does an admirable job of making him a 3D character.

Overall, another powerhouse of a novel focused on perhaps a man who has been misunderstood and underappreciated but who is finally having his story told.

In a market crowded with Tudor fiction, it’s difficult to find something new and different. This novel about Cardinal Wolsey – although maybe not the only one to be written about him – at least gives us the perspective of a prominent Tudor figure other than Henry VIII and his six wives. As with Hilary Mantel’s Thomas Cromwell novels, the focus is on politics, the forging and breaking of alliances with foreign powers, rivalries within the King’s inner circle and, above all, the rise and fall of a clever, ambitious man. We are also given some insight into Wolsey’s personal life as he is forced to choose between his career and the woman he loves.

The Cardinal covers Thomas Wolsey’s entire life, beginning with his childhood in Suffolk. Thomas – or Tom as he is known throughout the book – is the son of a yeoman farmer who also owns an inn and a butcher’s shop. However, Tom proves to be academically gifted from an early age, so instead of going into one of the family businesses he is sent to study at Oxford. At only eleven years old, he is much younger than the other students and is expected to have a bright future. Nobody could have predicted just how bright, as after making the decision to enter the church, Tom catches the eye of several influential patrons and rapidly gains wealth and power, becoming a trusted friend and adviser of first Henry VII, then Henry VIII.

Wolsey’s positions include Lord Chancellor, Bishop of York, cardinal and papal legate, and he begins to construct for himself a magnificent palace, Hampton Court. Needless to say, he quickly incurs the jealousy and resentment of other courtiers and Weir shows us how he systematically goes about bringing down his enemies and ensuring that he remains closer to the King than anyone else. Eventually he meets his match in Anne Boleyn, who has reasons of her own to dislike him. Anne is very much the villain in this book, which seems to be the case in most of Weir’s Tudor novels, probably due to the perspectives from which they’re written. Anne Boleyn, a King’s Obsession gives a more nuanced portrayal.

I loved the first half of the book, dealing with Wolsey’s early life and career, as there was a lot of material here that I had never read about in much detail before. I was also interested in the character of Joan Larke, the woman with whom Tom falls in love just as he’s beginning his rise to power. His position in the church makes it impossible for them to live together openly and he is forced to watch as she marries another man, unable to acknowledge the children he has had with her. I couldn’t feel too sorry for him, though, because he could have given up his career for her and chose not to. My sympathies were more with Joan (who would probably make a good subject for a novel in her own right, even if a lot would have to be invented as factual information on her seems quite limited).

The second half of the book is mainly devoted to Henry VIII’s Great Matter – his attempts to divorce Katherine of Aragon so that he can marry Anne Boleyn. Having already read about this several times in Weir’s other novels, from the perspectives of Katherine, Anne, Henry and Mary I, I didn’t really feel the need to read about it again so this part of the book dragged a little bit for me. Apart from that, I did enjoy The Cardinal and its portrayal of Thomas Wolsey. I’ll be interested to see which Tudor figure Alison Weir writes about next – or whether she’ll move away from that period and do something different.

A compelling and addictive story of Wolsey, the man. I was completely engrossed. The book reels you in and gives you full insight to see the political intrigue and factions beneath the pomp and pageantry. Tudor atmosphere at its best.

When it comes to historical fiction Alison Weir is just the best. This book has everything and more that you wanted to know/learn about Thomas Wolsey. From his humble beginnings to his great rise to power under Henry VIII as his advisor and then his great demise. It showed how he felt himself invincible in his devious plots to gain more power which he believed was rightfully his and those that suffered because of it. I really enjoyed this book and the detail was immense. There are many books written about Thomas Wolsey, but this is one of the best

Huge Alison Weir fan, love her historical fiction. The attention to detail and the fact she is a historian really shines through in all her novels.
The book tells of Wolsey’s great fall. From a relatively humble beginnings to the height of his power as King Henry VIII’s advisor, to his fall. This book has it all, Cardinal Wolsey was not a nice man, he was power hungry and selfish. He fell into the trap of thinking himself almost invincible. But he was not the first, nor last person to take the blame for one of Henry’s mistakes.
In parts, this does get booked down in the foreign politics and can get a bit heavy.
The romantic, sub plot for a wanting better description, is good and again shows the flawed character he was.
If you like books on Tudor England with immense detail from someone who has studied this time in history then this would be a book for you.

Thank you to Alison Weir, Headline Review, and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Another brilliantly written historical fiction from Weir. Full review to come!

I just love reading books by this author Alison Weir, especially as she is one of the best Historical Fiction authors out there. So when her new book The Cardinal by Alison Weir came out I had to find some time for me!!! - if you know what I mean. . . . Alison's latest book was Brilliant - and a eye opener!

With this book, you step into tudor England times where it all began. Thomas is the son of a Suffolk tradesman. He was a brilliant talented boy who was sent to study at Oxford at the tender age of eleven. This is a story of the life of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, who ends with a disgraced Cardinal, and was cast from the King's side and estranged from those he loves. This book was so good and a great page turner. . . . and a very interesting read.

I highly recommend The Cardinal by Alison Weir and all of her books. Everyone I have read, has been a 5 star read and tis one was no different. Superb read.

I loved the cover - very eye catching.

Big thank you to NetGalley and Headline for my arc.

The Cardinal is the story of Thomas Wolsey, one of Henry VIII’s most scrutinised advisers. He was by Henry’s side when his father died and he became King. Alison Weir tells us of Thomas’ rise from humble beginnings to become one of the richest, most powerful men in England to his subsequent decline in favour.

The book allows us to see from Thomas’ perspective where much of History written about him seems rather slanted. Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy, all opinions are my own.

I am a huge fan of the author's non-fiction work but this is my first time reading one of her novels.

I am conflicted. There are no real redeeming aspects to this Wolsey. He loves Joan, but he's selfish and cruel and never puts her first, thinks only of himself. He feels bad about it yes, but he never makes any steps to actually fix it. He cries and cowers at everything. This is meant to be Cardinal Wolsey, the man who masterminded the first twenty odd years of Henry's reign and yet he is confounded and surprised at every single turn. It was impossible to like him, and that meant being with him for nearly 500 pages became a chore.

However, some of the writing is great. The real villain of the piece is Harry. The author has brilliantly captured the unpleasant aspects of his personality, his arrogance, his hypocrisy, his cruelty. Although again, I fail to understand why Wolsey 'loves him like a son', Henry is nothing but horrible to him, nice only when it serves his own purpose. He shows time and time again that he will abandon anyone and yet time and time again, Wolsey is surprised when Henry turns against him.

The book also takes every rumour, every sensationalist bit of story and treats as fact, which in turn diminishes some of the lesser characters to mere 2d versions. Anne in particular suffers in this, we see none of the calculating, self made woman the author herself has spent years explaining in her non-fiction work and instead here is the monster of every catholic mind. Its a shame.

This new book from author and historian Alison Weir charts the rise and fall of Thomas Wolsey and is told from his point of view. We also get the story of Henry the VIII's divorce from Katherine told from the perspective of the man in charge of making it happen.

As with her other historical novels set in Tudor times, it is hard to figure out which elements are truthful and which are fictional. It is so beautifully written that the fiction and non fiction elements blend together. It did feel a little lengthy at times, but the insight into the life of one of the most powerful men of the time is fascinating.

A recommended read for fans of Alison Weir and Tudor history.

Thank you to Netgalley and Headline for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A talented scholar from a poor background, young Thomas Wolsey knows that the only way to progress is to take holy orders. He does so and starts to rise through the patronage of his social superiors. However, Tom falls in love and takes for his mistress Joan, hiding her from world as he becomes prominent at court. When King Henry tells him to set aside Joan he does but takes solace in the power and wealth he is accumulating. Now the King's chief advisor, Tom is flying high but greatness comes with enemies.
Another excellent piece of historical fiction from eminent historian Alison Weir. Whilst most of the story is fictional, the research is superb, blending many known sources seamlessly into the narrative and this makes up for the clunky nature of some of the plot. Essentially this is an accessible introduction to the backstory of Thomas Wolsey and I loved the way that his rise to fame was explored as much as his fall from grace.

Thomas Wolsey is sent to Oxford by his uncle to be educated as a clergyman, and because of his intelligence he quickly stands out there. He makes a rapid rise and ends up at Court where he eventually serves the young Henry VIII – although the other nobles look down on him because of his lowly birth. Wolsey has his own views on European politics and the future of England and tries to support Henry as much as he can – even when the king starts asking for things he doesn’t agree with. Meanwhile, he falls in love with Joan. A forbidden love and so he must hide Joan from the outside world.

This time, Alison Weir writes a book about Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. Henry VIII’s first chief advisor and perhaps the most important of all – because a young Henry was still easy to influence. I must admit that Wolsey is by no means my favorite Tudor character. I find him not easy to understand, a bit boring and at times quite tiresome. He can’t seem to make decisions and is a shrewd politician and cleric. Still, I thought the first part of ‘The cardinal‘ was okay. We read about the young Wolsey, his rise to court and his love for Joan.

But then it all begins to become so dull and familiar. The difficult political tensions between England, France and Spain. The field of the cloth of gold. Bessie Blount. And finally Anne Boleyn and The Great Matter.

The Great Matter that drags on and on – yes, it was the case in reality also but in this novel it’s such an essential and big part of the story as Wolsey is quite involved. But I didn’t learn anything new about it. The Boleyns are again demonized. Weir does this always and I can understand it from Wolsey’s viewpoint but it was too much, especially his constant referring to Anne as the night crow. And then there is Wolsey’s downfall, which also really drags on – and Henry’s motives never become clear.

In this novel, Weir again employs such a dry narrative style so that it feels more like a biography than a novel. What really drives Wolsey, other than his sexual lust for Joan? No idea. How does Henry feel about Wolsey? Also no idea. Why is Cromwell loyal to him? No idea because Cromwell appears so little in the book that we don’t see them building a relationship. There is just the description of facts, no interpretation.

In 500 pages, Weir could have fleshed out so much more and taken a stand here and there to spice up the story. But like Wolsey, taking a stand proves no easy task.

Alison Weir and I: it remains a love hate relationship as it turns out. I prefer her six queens series I believe. I hope she’ll move on to another era or subject now, as she has written about Henry VIII from so many different perspectives that there’s not much new anymore to tell.

It’s not my favourite Alison Weir book, but if you want to learn more about Thomas Wolsey, this is a good start.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.